Newmarket & Arabia. An Examination of the Descent of Racers and Coursers -
Roger D. Upton (Captain Late 9th Royal Lancers)
1873 - Henry S. King &, London - First Edition
A fine, thus scarce, first edition of this important work, by former cavalry officer, Roger Upton, a prominent early expert in purebred Arabians and the English thoroughbred horses.
Illustrated with hand-coloured wood engraved front, and to the rear ‘contains a list of Arabians, Barbs, Turks, and foreign horses which were employed, more or less, in the formation of the English stud from the time of King James I, until about the end of the 18th century’ [Loder] including four large folding charts.
Written ‘to encourage. deeper insight into the history of the horse in this country, more especially ‘the thoroughbred’. A great champion of the Arabian horse, he examines its history, defends it from its detractors, and strongly urges that the then degenerate English stock, as he saw it, be re-founded on a pure Arabian bloodline. In his conclusion he outlined radical plans for a national stud to regenerate the English horse, to the advantage of racers, hunters and cavalrymen. [Ithaca Press] Major Roger D. Upton (1827-81) - In 1874-1875, Major Upton travelled to Desert Arabia to obtain purebred horses from the tribes and export them to England apparently to be used for upgrading the British Cavalry stock. His later book, ‘Gleanings from the Desert of Arabia’ (1881) contains a detailed record of his journey and what he learned about the desert horse from his host Sulieman ibn Murshid, the high Sheikh of the Anazeh.
Reference: Heirloom Arabian Stud [www]. Eileen Loder, Horse Racing and Thoroughbred Breeding in Great Britain and Ireland, 396. Boyd/P. 130. F H Huth, Works On Horses And Equitation, 273.
Octavo (book size 20.5x14.5cm), pp. xi [1] 211 [1] 32 (publisher’s catalogue dated April 1873). In publisher’s brown cloth, spine and covers lettered and ruled in gilt and black, upper board with gilt horse head vignette, black coated endpapers. Condition: Fine, slight toning to spine, and rubbing to spine ends. No foxing to interior. Ref: 112102 Price: HK$ 14,000
Illustrated with hand-coloured wood engraved front, and to the rear ‘contains a list of Arabians, Barbs, Turks, and foreign horses which were employed, more or less, in the formation of the English stud from the time of King James I, until about the end of the 18th century’ [Loder] including four large folding charts.
Written ‘to encourage. deeper insight into the history of the horse in this country, more especially ‘the thoroughbred’. A great champion of the Arabian horse, he examines its history, defends it from its detractors, and strongly urges that the then degenerate English stock, as he saw it, be re-founded on a pure Arabian bloodline. In his conclusion he outlined radical plans for a national stud to regenerate the English horse, to the advantage of racers, hunters and cavalrymen. [Ithaca Press] Major Roger D. Upton (1827-81) - In 1874-1875, Major Upton travelled to Desert Arabia to obtain purebred horses from the tribes and export them to England apparently to be used for upgrading the British Cavalry stock. His later book, ‘Gleanings from the Desert of Arabia’ (1881) contains a detailed record of his journey and what he learned about the desert horse from his host Sulieman ibn Murshid, the high Sheikh of the Anazeh.
Reference: Heirloom Arabian Stud [www]. Eileen Loder, Horse Racing and Thoroughbred Breeding in Great Britain and Ireland, 396. Boyd/P. 130. F H Huth, Works On Horses And Equitation, 273.
Octavo (book size 20.5x14.5cm), pp. xi [1] 211 [1] 32 (publisher’s catalogue dated April 1873). In publisher’s brown cloth, spine and covers lettered and ruled in gilt and black, upper board with gilt horse head vignette, black coated endpapers. Condition: Fine, slight toning to spine, and rubbing to spine ends. No foxing to interior. Ref: 112102 Price: HK$ 14,000